Lugging machine

ABSTRACT

A machine for mounting terminal lugs on the flanged base of a tubular core including automatic feed means for a chain-form of lugs and means to sever said lugs from the chain of lugs one at a time and secure them to the flange. The machine also includes means to index the flange to facilitate selective placement of a predetermined number of lugs on said flange.

Apr. 17,1973

United States Patent 1191 McFarlane LUGGING MACHINE Primary Examiner-Thomas H. Eager [75] Att0rney-Elmer L. Zwickel Inventor: Richard H. McFarlane,Geneva, Ill. Assignee: Coilform Company, Geneva, [IL

[22] Filed:

Apr. 8, 1971 Appl. No.: 132,322

A machine for mounting terminal lugs on the flanged base of a tubular core including automatic feed means for a chain-form of lugs and means to sever said lugs [52] US. Cl. D [51] Int. Cl. ...H0lr 43/04 from the chain of g one at a time and Secure them [58] Field of Searchm.....................29/203 D, 203 B, to the fl ng Th m hine also incl m n to 29/203 R, 203 P index the flange to facilitate selective placementof a predetermined number of lugs on said flange.

[56] References Cited 8 Claims, 12 Drawing Figures UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,386,153 Lau et al.............................29/203 D PATENTEDAPRI 1 ma 3, 727, 285

SHEET 1 BF 5 lmfe ctltb r PATENIEDAPR 1 Y m a; 727. 285

SHEET 2 UF 5 Jig a.

PATENIED APR 1 7 i973 SHEET 3 0F 5 PATENTED 3,727, 285

SHEET 5 [IF 5 LUGGING MACHINE The invention relates to a machine that includes a mandrel over which a flanged tubular member is telescoped. A series of terminal lugs in chain form are successively severed from the pilot strip and are positioned one at a time for attachment to the flange on the tubular member. Each lug has a deformation in the form of a yoke adjacent to one end which is fitted over the periphery of the flange and means is then actuated to pinch the yoke firmly about the flange. The lug yoke has one or more barbs on its wall that pierce the materia] of the flange for staking the lug in place on the flange. Means is provided to automatically cycle the machine until a predetermined number of lugs is secured on the flange. The term tubular member" as used herein may include coil forms or any other type of tubular element on which it is desired to attach one or a plurality of lugs.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a lugging machine of the character referred to.

Another object is to provide novel mechanism for feeding terminal lugs to means for attaching them to a tubular member.

Another object is to provide novel means to index a tubular member during successive application of terminal lugs thereon.

Another object is to provide novel means to mount and to secure lugs to a flanged tubular member.

Another object is to provide a novel yieldable mounting on a vertically reciprocal ram for a shear bar and pinching element carried thereon.

Another object is to provide a lugging machine with novelly constructed lug shearing and pinching tools.

Another object is to provide a machine of the character described which is not difficult or expensive to manufacture or service, and one that is very efficient in use.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent with reference to the following description and accompanying drawings.

In the drawings: 7

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of the machine.

FIG. 2 is a detail view, partly broken away, of the chain form of lugs feeding mechanism.

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the machine.

FIG. 4 is a detail view of the mandrel indexing mechanism, taken substantially on line 44 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is an elevational view of the back side of the machine.

FIGS. 6 and 7 are elevational views of opposite ends of the machine.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the chain form of lugs.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged perspective view of a lug.

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary perspective view of a tubular member showing lugs attached thereto.

FIG. 11 is a detail sectional view of the ram carrying the shearing and pinching tools, shown in its lowermost position.

FIG. 12 is a view similar to FIG. 11, showing the ram elevated.

The machine of the present invention functions to attach a predetermined number of soldering lugs on the base flange of a tubular member. Such member is best shown in FIG. 10, wherein it is noted that the tubular member has a body 1 1 formed at one end with an external flange 12. The terminal lugs 13 (FIG.9) are incrementally attached to the flange during successive cycles of machine operation. For attaching the lugs the tubular member is mounted on a mandrel which is rotated step-by-step into preselected positions. A series of such lugs, in chain form, as shown in FIG. 8, are fed to the tubular member and are individually severed from the pilot strip 13a and selectively pinched over the flange. To this end, each lug has on its mounting end a substantially V-shaped depression or yoke 14 that snugly embraces the flange margin. When pinched thereover one or more barbs 15 thereon bite into the flange material to stake the lugs firmly thereon.

The lugging machine illustrated in an exemplary form in the accompanying drawings comprises a hollow base, indicated by line 16, upon which is secured the machine base plate 17 having selected components of the machine depending into the hollow base. The base plate 17 has a pair of rigid guide posts 18 projecting up-, wardly therefrom upon which is slidably mounted, for vertical reciprocation, a ram 19 that normally seats on a resilient cushion 21. The ram is provided with upstanding rigid bushings 22 that guide it on the guide posts.

Mounted firmly on the guide posts 18 and spaced above ram 19, is a mounting or head bar 23 providing support and guide means for a chain form of lugs and a bearing for a mandrel 24. As best shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, the mandrel 24 comprises a rod projecting forwardly of the bar 23 and having on its base a drive pin 25 that is adapted to receive in engagement therewith a notch or hole 26 (FIG.10) in the base flange 12 on the tubular work piece or member body 11 that is telescoped thereover. The mandrel shaft 26 extends rearwardly through the head bar 23, in which it is journalled, and carries on its rearwardly projecting end a wheel 27 (FIGS. 3-5) carrying a plurality of stop or index pins 28 (six shown) one provided for each lug to be secured to the tubular member. The shaft 26 has a tail extension 29 rearwardly of the wheel that is coupled, as at 31, to the rotatable shaft 32 of a pneumatic motor 33. When the machine is in service, the motor functions to tend to rotate the mandrel.

Continued rotation of the mandrel is of course prevented by the presence of the stop or indexing pins 28 which are periodically engaged by a pawl 34 which, as best shown in FIG. 4, comprises a slide block 35. having its free end or pawl 34 normally lying in the path of the related stop pin 28 so as to prevent mandrel rotation. This block 35 is slidable in the bar 23 and its rear end is connected rigidly to the piston rod 36 of a pneumatic piston-cylinder assembly 37 connected, as by an air line 38 to a source of air pressure. It should be apparent at this time that so long as the mandrel motor 33 is operative, each time the pawl 34 is withdrawn momentarily from stop pin engagement, the mandrel will rotate into its next position of rotation. This step-bystep rotation of the mandrel will continue until the required number of lugs are secured to the tubular member in a manner to be described presently.

Such cycle termination is effected by a switch 39 (FIG. 5) having an actuator 41 projecting therefrom and lying in the path just rearwardly of the stop pin wheel 27. As shown in FIG. 3, all but one of the stop pins 28 project out of the back side of the wheel and lie in the path of the switch actuator 41. The station lacking the back side projection permits the cycling switch 39 to remain open and stop the machine, whereupon the lugged tubular member fitted over the mandrel may be removed from the mandrel and another tubular member placed thereon.

As previously noted, the strip or chain of lugs 13 is advanced to the mandrel step-by-step in synchronism with mandrel rotation. Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, the chain of lugs has its perforated pilot strip 13a nested into a slot 42 formed on the front face of the bar 23. The front face of the bar is recessed in part to receive a lug feed mechanism best shown in FIG. 2. As there illustrated, a slide block 43 is seated in said recess and held in place by a cover plate 44 (FIG. 1). The slide block is arranged above the slot 42 and it carries a spring pressed ball 45 that normally seats in one of the uniformally spaced apart feed holes 13b (FIG.8) in the pilot strip. This block is connected to a piston rod 46 of a cylinder piston assembly 47 which, when actuated, causes the block to shift a distance equal to the spacing of the lugs on the lug chain. Thus, it will be apparent that each time the slide block is advanced (to the left in FIG. 2) a lug is positioned below the mandrel 24. Reverse movement of the chain of lugs when the slide block is returned to its start position is prevented by means to be described presently.

The ram 19, previously referred to, is raised and lowered by means of a ram cylinder-piston assembly 20. The ram is comprised of a substantially rectangular plate mounting on its top surface a block assembly 48 mounting lug shearing and attaching tools. This is best shown in FIGS. 11 and 12. The block assembly 48 is formed with a recess 49 opening onto its top surface and in which is mounted a combination seating-shearing tool 51 and a pinch arm 52. The setting tool-pinch arm assembly normally is urged in an upward direction relative to the ram 19 by a compression spring 53 embedded therein, but is limited in its upward movement by a flange 54 (FIG. 1) on it base that abuts a downwardly facing shoulder in the block assembly 48.

Specifically, the setting tool assembly 51 has its upper'end suitably formed to conform substantially to the configuration of the lug and it includes an upstanding shearing edge 55 that functions, when the tool is carried upwardly into contact with the lug chain,with sufficient intensity to carry the lug against a shear block 50 on the mandrel and shear it. The lug is then carried upwardly to nest its V-shaped yoke 14 over the peripheral margin of the flange 12 on the tubular member. To eliminate applying excessive pressure to the flange of the coil and to insure proper positioning of the lug on the flange, a shoulder on the rear of the seating and shearing tool 51 contacts a stop block 51a. This is followed by a pinching action which is caused by rocking of the pinch arm 52. As shown, this arm is pivoted in the tool, as at 56, and it has an inclined edge 57 that is abutted when in down position by a spring pressed pin 58 that always returns it to so-called open position (FIG.11). When it is raised (FIG.12) during the severing action, a pin-roller 59 engages another inclined surface 61 on its tail end so as to forcibly rock same clockwise and pinch the lug firmly about the flange.

The presence of spring 53 affords maximum pressure being exerted during elevation of the ram 19 which will travel upwardly a distance slightly greater than the gap between the shearing tool and the chain strip of lugs.

Repeat operation of the ram is effected by providing it with means to actuate switches controlling the flow of air to the ram cylinder assembly 20. As shown in-FIG. 5, the ram carries a depending rod 62 that extends freely through an aperture in the base and engages, when in down position, a switch 63 to actuate the means for admitting air into the lower end of the ram for again elevating the ram. The ram also carries an arm 64 that also extends freely through the base and has an adjusting screw 65 that engaged and actuatesa switch 66 to control the exhaust of air from the ram cylinder. Thus, when said last named switch 66 is actuated the ram is carried into its lower position by action of a return spring in the upper end of the ram cylinder. Vertical reciprocation of the ram will continue so long as the mandrel indexing switch 39 is in closed condition.

Each time the ram moves upwardly, a pair of pilot pins 67 (FIG.1) carried thereby, are projected through aligned holes 13b in the lug pilot strip 13a to prevent reverse movement of said chain as the incriment feed block 43 is retarded.

The ram 19 has a pair of cam elements 68 and 69, one mounted on each end thereof and projecting rearwardly therefrom. One of these cams 68 is provided to cooperate with a valve 71 which controls operation of the chain feed block assembly 47, whereas the other cooperates with a valve 72 operable to control operation of the index pawl pneumatic piston cylinder 37. Said valve 72 incorporates a one-way actuator which allows the valve to be momentarily opened only on the down stroke of the ram 19. This valve actuation momentarily retracts the index pawl 34, allowing the mandrel index motor 33 to function to rotate the mandrel to the next lug setting.

In operation, electric power to the machine is turned on and a valve controlling the flow of air to all pneumatic systems is opened. The machine is now functional. A flanged tubular member 1112 is placed on the mandrel 24 and positioned with its notch engaged with the drive pin on the mandrel. A foot switch (not shown) is momentarily depressed to cause air to flow to ram actuating cylinder 20 causing the ram 19 and parts carried thereon to move upwardly. Within the first onefourth inch of ram travel the two pilot pins 67 will fully engage the lug pilot strip 13a. Within the next oneeighth inch of travel the lug index control valve 71 will be opened by the cam on the rear of the ram to permit the lug index cylinder 47 to return the lug indexing plunger to the next adjacent hole in the pilot strip. This control valve will remain open until the ram returns to approximately the same position on the down stroke.

Continued upward movement of the ram shears the lug from the pilot strip by the shear action between the lug shear block 50 and the lugging bar 51. The ram continues its upward movement to carry the lug upwardly and over the periphery of the tubular element flange 12. The camming action of the pinch arm 52 then closes the lug over the flange and it is permanently staked thereto. At this same point of time the ram return adjusting screw 65, carried by arm 64, has contacted the ram return switch 66, de-energizing the cycle control relay and closing the ram control valve (not shown). This enables the return spring in the ram actuating cylinder to move the ram downwardly. During the first part of this downstroke the lugging bar 51 withdraws from the shear block and the pinch arm 52 returns to its open position. The ram continues its downward movement until the cam 68 opens the index pawl control valve 72 and causes the index pawl 34 to be withdrawn momentarily allowing the index wheel 27 to rotate until the next index stop pin 28 comes into position. Still moving downwardly, the ram causes the index control valve to close allowing the lug index cylinder return spring to move the lug index ball plunger 45 forward to its original position, thus advancing the lug strip for next lug application. As the ram approaches its lowermost position the reciprocal switch 39 is closed and the unit will continue to recycle until said reciprocal switch is reopened. Recycling is reinstituted by again depressing the foot switch.

Iclaim:

l. A machine for successively mounting a plurality of lugs on a tubular member having an external base flange comprising a mandrel for receiving the tubular member, means for feeding a chain form of lugs to a position in alignment with the base flange, means for successively severing lugs one at a time from the chain form, means for successively pinching a predetermined number of said severed lugs one at a time on said flange, means for indexing said mandrel following each lug mounting operation, and means for automatically cycling said machine until a predetermined number of lugs have been mounted on the flange.

2. The machine recited in claim 1, in which the severing means includes a shear bar that cooperates with a shear block on the mandrel assembly.

3. The machine recited in claim 1, in which a motor controlled pawl is operatively associated with means to rotate the mandrel for indexing same.

4. The machine recited in claim 3, in which the indexing means comprises an indexing wheel having stop pins thereon engageable by the pawl.

5. The machine recited in claim 4, in which the indexing wheel includes means to control recycling of the machine.

6. The machine recited in claim 1, in which a vertically reciprocable ram carries the lug severing and pinching means;

7. The machine recited in claim 6, in which the lug severing and pinching means are yieldably mounted on the ram.

8. The machine recited in claim 6, in which the ram carries means to actuate the pinch means. 

1. A machine for successively mounting a plurality of lugs on a tubular member having an external base flange comprising a mandrel for receiving the tubular member, means for feeding a chain form of lugs to a position in alignment with the base flange, means for successively severing lugs one at a time from the chain form, means for successively pinching a predetermined number of said severed lugs one at a time on said flange, means for indexing said mandrel following each lug mounting operation, and means for automatically cycling said machine until a predetermined number of lugs have been mounted on the flange.
 2. The machine recited in claim 1, in which the severing means includes a shear bar that cooperates with a shear block on the mandrel assembly.
 3. The machine recited in claim 1, in which a motor controlled pawl is operatively associated with means to rotate thE mandrel for indexing same.
 4. The machine recited in claim 3, in which the indexing means comprises an indexing wheel having stop pins thereon engageable by the pawl.
 5. The machine recited in claim 4, in which the indexing wheel includes means to control recycling of the machine.
 6. The machine recited in claim 1, in which a vertically reciprocable ram carries the lug severing and pinching means.
 7. The machine recited in claim 6, in which the lug severing and pinching means are yieldably mounted on the ram.
 8. The machine recited in claim 6, in which the ram carries means to actuate the pinch means. 